Do you
watch at the window? Do you stand at the door? Do
you wait by the silent phone?
You are not alone in
keeping the candle burning for your young or old
wayward child
to come
down the lane and back into your
life or back to faith in the Lord Jesus.
You
are not alone as you daily wait at the gates of heaven
in prayer for your prodigal child.

A Light in
the Window...

Fathers and mothers of
prodigals have very much in common; and, incidentally, most all prodigals
or wayward's are very similar in the sense that they, at some point in time, made a decision to go their
own way. Either mentally, physically or both. Now, the
ways or methods of prodigals may be very different,
but most prodigals take their first step on the long, long prodigal road with a
simple "you can't make me" attitude or action. In defying parents, the prodigals defy
God.

The Wayward
Road

The pretty lures of the world entice prodigals in different
ways. As children grow older, the lure of radio, television, internet,
friends, etc., etc., becomes stronger and brighter.
Forbidden fruit is usually in the hand of a friend who
is not likely fully welcome or accepted in the family home. The first
steps are so innocuous that they're often missed or dismissed by trusting parents.
These little steps over the line, in time, become giant leaps and it's often the giant leap
that catches the surprised attention of parents. The impetus to these
little side steps is so varied, but down the road, parents of prodigals look
back and can generally pin point the beginning of the slide — the
beginning of the wayward road.

Some wayward's or
prodigals begin drifting into music, computer games, online communities, friends
and so on. Then, once stepping outside the bounds of home and authority,
they're lured by freedom and independence and generally a shroud of secrecy. Some are led astray by lies, by
drugs — some by alcohol, and some by crime. They seem to emotionally
disconnect or close out all Truth. And usually when this occurs, they've
erected walls that seemingly cannot be scaled - either by them (to return) or by parents
seeking to bring them back home. The pain is seemingly unbearable for the parents
and even for the prodigal; though the pain for the prodigal
is different: it's a gnawing, wasting pain.

As opposed to
true prodigals or runaways, there's another quasi prodigal
or quasi wayward, these are: physically present prodigals or
physically present wayward's. They may still be at the table
most meal times, still have a bed or a bedroom in the home,
may even contribute something to the family and home, still
have a seat in the family van, still
occupy a seat in the church, but these have closed their hearts and minds to Truth,
they are closed to Jesus, they generally have a very secret
"other-life" or "other-self."

I seek to
offer encouragement to stay still in the Hand of the Potter.
Be still and know that He is God... He will be exalted among
the heathen, He will be exalted in the earth. Cling to
the hem of His garment. Cling to the Hand of the LORD
who is only Faithful. Trust in His Word. Hold
onto His promises. Be instant in prayer, filled with
thanksgiving... Trust in His promises:

Train up a child in the
way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.Proverbs 22.6

Dear Mother...
pray.
Do every thing you're responsible to do.
Every day: seek the LORD for THIS day, ask
Him what He would have of you for this
day - not tomorrow, not yesterday.
Today. Repent of ANY known sin.
Confess and correct any known wrong on your
part. Do what you said you would do --
fulfill the promises you made, and so long
as it depends on you to do it, do it.
Then... every day seek to yield your life,
your husband's life, your children's lives
and that wayward's life to the LORD.
Live according to the Word and do not waiver
in your pursuit to live according to the
will and way of the LORD.

I don't know if the above will help
you in your situation... but I do know this for
certain: Giving up is not an option.
Cutting off all contact is not an option.
Negating or negotiating wrong choices is not an
option. Reversing the damages is not an option
-- that is to say, whatever precipitated the wrong
choices is done. You cannot recreate the past.
If you made stupid parenting decisions, if you
weren't there as a parent, if you messed up --
whatever -- you have to get past the idea that you
can *today* make your *yesterdays* or
their *yesterdays* any different.

But you CAN learn from the past. You CAN learn
from your mistakes and tragedies.

You have today. That's all you've got: today.
If you've got a prodigal today, do something
today... pray, call, pray, seek to communicate,
pray, quit doing the stupid in your life and live
the rest of your days -- by the grace of God --
according to all that He has commanded you.

And
he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off,
his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran,
and fell on his neck, and kissed him.